Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

I will respond to the previous comment made by Senator Cullinane. DEIS is a new and wider classification for disadvantaged schools that followed the giving children an even break programme. I would welcome a clarification in this regard from the Minister, Deputy Quinn, to whom my second item this morning also pertains. In the previous Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Science, the Minister, Deputy Quinn, sat beside me and I acknowledge his concern for disadvantaged schools. He strongly supported my study on early school leaving, which largely emerged from disadvantaged schools. He was the main proponent of that study and consequently, I have every confidence the Minister, Deputy Quinn, will address any injustice there may be in this regard. However, my reading of this situation is that DEIS was a new classification that came on top of the giving children an even break programme and perhaps there was an imbalance that now has been ratified. However, Members should wait and get an answer in this regard.

The main issue I wish to raise with the Leader today concerns the need for a comprehensive debate in the new year on bullying. I do not believe such a debate has ever taken place in this House. Bullying affects children, young people and adults. Conventional bullying has caused the suicide of young people in Ireland and I recall the terrible death of that young girl from County Clare, Phoebe Prince, when she went to America and was bullied there. In this regard, I commend the work of the National Anti-Bullying Coalition. However, I draw Members' attention to the grave dangers of cyber-bullying through social media and social networking and in particular, I refer to Facebook. A wonderful report appeared in this morning's edition of the Irish Independent concerning a 16 year old, who has been obliged to consult a psychologist, is now on antidepressants and who was obliged to move schools. His parents were obliged to approach the American Embassy to get Facebook to take down the child's site to stop him from being bullied. While the country faces austerity, tough budgets and really tough times, this is something Members genuinely can try to do something about through legislation. It is time that social media were regulated, as this has gone too far and is hurting the lives of too many children, young people and adults. I look forward to such a debate in the new year.